Divisions [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

It was odd to have a formal dinner, and under any other circumstances, the knight Alexa Lyall would have found an excuse to back out. Unfortunately, the auburn haired knight was forced into it by the fact her partner and captain of the guard was also invited, and also, obviously, attending.


She stood in the lobby area of the single-floored building lovingly called the barracks, and waited with her back to one wall for the pyromancer to leave his room. It didn’t take long for the ‘Great One’ to exit, no finery or armor decked over his well-muscled form, but instead just a tunic and slacks.


An eyebrow raised as her green eyes skimmed him. “You do know we’re going to see the Odion, don’t you?” She was in a dress, after all, a rarity for her. It was a dark green hue, supposedly because it brought out her eyes.


Leon Brenton shook his mane of black hair, “Why do you think I’m dressed like this?” He huffed, motioning down, a glint of mischief in his grey eyes.


Alexa arched an eyebrow, “So, why are we going then?” As a rule, Leon and the Odion family didn’t get along. They saw Leon as a warmonger, and he saw them as cowards. It stemmed from the last war, over a decade ago, when he took his position as Captain and Alexa took her place as his second. He earned his name as the ‘Great One’ for absolutely devastating their opponents. The Odion intervened to make peace, rather than take the land and conquer it.


Needless to say, that was an issue nowadays. “Choir boy,” he sighed.


Alexa groaned. “I’m starting to hate choir boy,” he was a cleric who was looking to become a guard. He had the magical prowess, but none of the noble background required. Even so, Leon liked him. There just wasn’t a space open. The Knights proper always consisted of only twenty-four members, partnered up. “You’re listening to him more than me.”


And choir boy seemed rather tight with the Odion family, particularly Ensio, the eldest son of Quinton.

 

[wickmachine18]

Knight Jobe walked into the banquet hall with his Mother upon his arm. The Steward's were an esteemed family, and if lesser women were considered social climbers, then Rhohilda Steward was a mountaineer. Her eldest twin sons; Jobe Thaniel and Malavitch had both made The Knights, and Rhohilda taken every opportunity that she could to swim in this new social circle. Malavitch would not have permitted her attend with him, but Jobe was altogether more indulgent of his Mother's whims.


"Would you look at what Lady Clarissa is wearing?" Rhohilda lifted her chin to murmur into her son's ear. From their expressions, the Steward's mutually disapproved. Red: What sort of colour was that for a debutante? Why the Odion's were permitting this courtship to occur for their eldest son was, indeed, a mystery. One that Rhohilda intended to delicately crack. "I am going to circulate." Which was Jobe's cue to lower his cheek to be delicately kissed by the fierce matriarch in midnight blue before she sashayed off and toward her quarry.


Jobe Thaniel Steward was an exceptionally good-looking man, and he knew it. This evening, he was attired in dusky purple with golden embroidery upon his cuffs. His hair was a shade duskier than a raven's wing and had been cut into a rakish style that flopped charmingly forwards across his brow. Framed with an illustriously thick dusting of black lashes, his emerald eyes scoured the room. Oh, all of the usual dullards were present. No sign of Alexa and Leon yet, though. With that thought in mind he moved across the vast room toward his brother. Malavitch had been glowering at him from the corner even since he had seen him arrive with Mother. Jobe had noticed him, but had pretended that he hadn't until now.

 

[Lucyfer]

Leon and Alexa’s discussion tapered off when they reached the gated manor of the Odion’s. Guests were arriving, or mingling near the door. “How long do we have to stay?”


“However long it takes whoever decided this to get to the point.” It was never ‘Quinton’ anymore. Rather, Leon had suspicions now that Ensio was running the show. It was quite likely. Ensio was married with a family now, and Quinton was nearly seventy.


Leon offered his arm, and Alexa sighed, “Come now, we both must behave.”


“We can’t just set it on fire?” She took his arm, giving him puppy dog eyes as they walked to the door together.


“Tempting, but you know that will backfire.”


“Yes.” It usually did. The Odions weren’t well respected just because they were rich and shrewd. No, like most other nobles, they had a talent, and theirs was as frustrating to them, as it was envied by others.


Ensio was at the door, strangely enough. The man was noticeable for his white—the Odion family were known for that, wearing white constantly. It was how they showed their status. They could afford to keep such clothing clean. They could live a lifestyle that catered to that. “Captain Leon, it is good to see you. And…Alexa…” Ensio didn’t like her. Something about how she stole the position that rightfully his younger brother’s position, Midir. Midir was a knight, skilled, but it hadn’t been enough. “A delight.”


“Truly,” Leon said with a smirk as Ensio eyed his black attire, not at all formal, “Where’s your father at, boy?”


Ensio answered as if he didn’t take offense, “Somewhere mingling inside. You should go in, it will be a bit before dinner begins.”


“Mm,” and hopefully Leon would have the information he needed before then and be able to leave. He gave a nod, “Thank you,” and walked in with Alexa, leaving Ensio to greet others.


Not all the knights were in attendance. In fact, Leon had expected only himself, Alexa, and Midir would be present, so when he caught sight of Jobe and Malavitch, he gave a startled laugh and nudged Alexa. She looked in the direction he motioned, “What are they doing here?” He chuckled.


Alexa shrugged. As if she’d know. Before she could protest about how they could find out later, Leon decided his mission to find Quinton wasn’t going to be nearly as interesting as going to talk with his fellows. Alexa, grudgingly, followed, and did her best to ignore the looks the Captain was receiving for his terrible choice of attire.

 

[wickmachine18]

Of the two brother's, Malavitch stood taller. Which often lead to Jobe being described as 'the short one', whenever anyone were describing the two. Although, neither of the brothers were of small stature - rather, Malavitch was gargantuan. Large, calm and capable; that was Malavitch Steward. He had flint in his grey eyes and hands large enough to crush a child's skull (not that he ever would). Truth be told, Jobe's apparent good looks were considerably dulled by standing so close to his taller, broader counterpart. Though Malavitch's charms were uncultivated and subdued. Unlike his lavishly dressed twin, he scarcely dressed in anything other than black or grey; and tonight was no exception. He watched as Mother pattered and smiled with the other women. It was all a carefully choreographed danced: A touch of the arm at just the right time, a gasp of displeasure upon cue. It was going to be a loathsome evening indeed, and with Anaskia at home and heavy with child, he knew where he would much rather be.


Jobe's smile grown in radiance as he noticed his comrades approach, and brought Malavitch to attention with an unobtrusive nudge of his elbow.


"You see? They are all here now. So do behave sulking; you shall be home within the hour if things go hastily enough."


Even by Malavitch's modest standards, Leon was terribly dressed. The displeasure of Mother could be sensed all the way from the other side of the room. However, unlike the rest of polite society, Malavitch was that exactly: Polite. He smiled and inclined his head to the twosome as they approached. "Alexa, Leon, good evening."

 

[Lucyfer]

“Good evening, Malavitch, Jobe,” Alexa greeted formally, inclining her head to both of them. She could see Leon rolling his eyes.


The reasons that Leon had for disliking Malavitch, were also the reasons Leon had for liking him. He could be unbearably polite. Leon liked honesty more than anything, so there were times he found the polite Malavitch to be unbearable. Now was one of those times, and he put up a smirk as he folded his arms over his chest, “Yeah, yeah,” he spoke to the ‘good evening’ dismissively, “What are you two doing here? I thought the Odion’s didn’t care much for green bloods.” Their term for the ‘new nobles’, not one that Leon used frequently unless he was mocking the mere idea of it.


Their family had risen in the ranks substantially when Leon opted to add the twins to the knights. It made their mother unbearable, and Jobe could be uppity at times—but Malavitch had taken it with grace.


“Choir boy,” Alexa hummed out the word to remind Leon that there were exceptions to the rules, so far as the Odion’s were concerned. Not to mention the fact they even let Leon inside, though to deny him would have been a scandal.


Leon ignored that.

 

[wickmachine18]

"I expect that we are here because Lady Odion fancies me. She has requested that I sit by her at dinner," Jobe paused to smile and lightly touch his brothers arm; including him in on his little joke, "And perhaps Mal could flank her other side. Then she would be in a Steward Sandwich. I imagine it would be quite a thrill for the old girl." All in all, there was at least a shred of truth in Jobe's bold claims. Lady Odion did indeed eye him appreciatively. As did a number of other ladies in court. Jobe was their 'favorite'. But Malavitch was in no mood to humor his twin and shrugged off his hand, which drew a peel of laughter from Jobe.


True enough, the Stewards were Green Bloods. Though, to say so within earshot of Rhohilda would be sure to cause a violent reaction. Three marriages it had taken her to get here: To get her sons here. Her first marriage to the boy's Father had ended when he was murdered. The second had left her battered, humiliated and scarred for life from when Gideon had decided to pour a scolding hot pot of tea over her hand right in the middle of high tea. The boys had been there when it had happened. Though, they were very young, and Rhohilda prayed that they could not remember. Jobe had screamed horrendously at the time... And finally, her third and longest joining was to Vikar, and it was off his back that she had build her modest empire. Vikar was a placid man. He was happier farming or out on the hunt than he was in dealing with 'Lordly duties'. Thus, it was common knowledge that Rhohilda was, in fact, running the show.


"Choir boy?" Malavitch spoke again at last, dark brows knitting together, "Is Ensio still considering him?"

 

[Lucyfer]

Leon looked skeptical at what Jobe had to say, but supposed it could be accurate. The ladies could toy around with whoever they liked, so long as they never married beneath them. Ensio had certainly played before settling with his current wife, a woman of nearly higher nobility than Ensio himself.


As always, though, it was the Odion magic that was found in their offspring. “Considering him?” Leon looked momentarily confused, and Alexa burst into laughter. “Oi! Don’t tell me you’re buying that nonsense.” He almost hit the back of Alexa to get her to be quiet.


Alexa seemed the source behind the rumor that Ensio was ‘considering’ Choir Boy as a lover, which Leon knew to be untrue. There were things Ensio was considering with choir boy, but none that would have had him phrase the question the way that Malavitch had phrased it. “What do you mean, though?”


Alexa touched Leon’s shoulder then, cast a glance towards the man of the hour, and walked off. The gesture told him to wait, and so he did, looking back to Malavitch to see if there was something about Choir Boy and Ensio that he didn’t know.


Alexa, meanwhile, approached the minor lord, Michael Sparrow, so-called Choir Boy. He had all the beauty of an angel with his strawberry blonde hair, wavy and long, and the perfect ocean-blue eyes on pale skin. He had none of the intimidation of one, though. At least, not in appearance. He was dressed quite formally in robes of blue and silver, unusual attire for anyone else but a cleric. “Lord Sparrow, a word, if I may,” she interrupted him and his current partners with little care.